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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To insist on second bathroom?

22 replies

novocaned · 07/07/2022 17:48

Or downstairs loo minimum?

We’re moving from a cheaper area of the country to a more expensive one for reasons beyond our control. We currently live in a 4 bed 10 year old new build (ok not new really) townhouse with family bathroom, en suite and downstairs loo which we will sell for about £300,000.

The place we’re moving to would cost us about £800,000 for same size. We could halve that if we went for 3 bed with one bathroom. Setting aside the absolute craziness of house price variations in this country, that would mean our two youngest (same sex) toddlers would have to share a room until at least secondary as we couldn’t move again before then. That seems slightly less outrageous to me than just having one bathroom for a family of 5 though! DH thinks I’m being princessy. AIBU?

OP posts:
AussieMozzieMagnet · 07/07/2022 17:51

Second bathroom is a must - for me! You are not being unreasonable at all snd very much being practical.

DDivaStar · 07/07/2022 17:54

Its perfectly doable. We are only a family of 3 and have only one bathroom. We did decide to split the bathroom so the toilet is separate which I think is going to help.

AntlerRose · 07/07/2022 17:55

I would aim for a downstairs loo if I could.

Wilkolampshade · 07/07/2022 17:57

Not princessy no, if you can possibly stretch to it. Its just about trying to get everyone out of the house /cope with illness/limit unnecessary stresses as much as poss.
We had to do a similar move with similar house values when we moved back to the SE recently. Getting bathrooms sorted was absolutely the first thing for me.

RoseMartha · 07/07/2022 17:58

I think you can live in a one bathroom house and same sex children can share a bedroom no matter how old they are.

My sister has a boy/ girl different ages (but the girl is a teen) sharing a room as no other option.

Yes a downstairs cloakroom would be nice. I would also look a smaller houses which don't have one at the moment but you could have one fitted eg under stairs .

I would be looking at garden sizes over whether or not my dc are sharing a room.

Threetulips · 07/07/2022 18:15

Why not a 3 bed and extend?

cloverleafy · 07/07/2022 18:20

Family of 5 here (slightly older children) and we won't even go on holiday without a second loo these days. I dread to think what your H would call me.

Gamingferretmum · 07/07/2022 18:21

Weve no children yet and it's just me and the Mr. We've decided that even if it's only the two of us for a bit if we move we want an extra loo... it would just be really useful where I have a chronic condition that leaves me in our single bathroom for an hour plus at a time which isn't always convenient for my poor SO😱we will be dubbing said spare toilet the poo loo 😆so no.. yanbu at all!

Nothappyatwork · 07/07/2022 18:23

I did not realise how much I missed the downstairs loo until I got one.

AmbushedByCake · 07/07/2022 18:32

I'm torn. 400k is a lot of money to save. But I grew up in a family of 4 with one bathroom and I vowed every day through my teenager years that I would have more than one bathroom; I hated only having one.

entropynow · 07/07/2022 18:34

AmbushedByCake · 07/07/2022 18:32

I'm torn. 400k is a lot of money to save. But I grew up in a family of 4 with one bathroom and I vowed every day through my teenager years that I would have more than one bathroom; I hated only having one.

Whereas I did exactly the same and have managed as another family of four with just one, without a qualm.
Honestly, for 400k? No contest.

Original poster
novocaned · 07/07/2022 19:20

I grew up in a family of 6 with family bathroom and downstairs loo. DH grew up in a family of 4 with 1 bathroom.

I’m just imagining future stomach bugs

OP posts:
FrankNsenseandmyrr · 07/07/2022 20:26

Just build another loo? You can fit a tiny loo and sink under most stairs or in a large hallway (obviously creating a new stud wall) or use some garage if it has one. Or various other places. Not worth not buying a house over.

CrotchetyQuaver · 07/07/2022 20:32

I would look for something with the potential to put in a downstairs loo, or a bathroom with a separate loo if you can find one. We are a family of 4 with 1 bathroom (kids now adult, only 1 still living at home) and life would have been so much easier if we had had a second loo, the number of times someone's had to get out of the shower because another needed a poo...

lugeforlife · 07/07/2022 20:33

I'd say another loo (we manage fine with only one bathroom but have a downstairs loo).

My mum got a second loo fitted in a tiny space (think airing cupboard size really). Sink is on top of loo cistern. Is fine. Cost her a few k.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/07/2022 20:36

If you can afford the mortgage on an 800k 4bed 2bath home, why not go for the 400k House, then save the extra it would have cost each month and use it to pay to have a downstairs loo installed and an attic conversion.

TerffLonDon · 07/07/2022 20:40

Wait what? Have I misunderstood? 800k to match what you’ve got or 400k for three bed one bath? It won’t cost 400k to extend another bed/bath will it, so do that (assuming outside space allows)

HairyScaryMonster · 07/07/2022 20:48

We had one loo until last year. If there wasn't somewhere to add one, it would be a difficult decision. It's sooo much easier.

Blossomtoes · 07/07/2022 21:16

One bathroom should be fine. I think a downstairs loo is non negotiable.

RollOnWinter · 07/07/2022 21:16

Oh, do give over with your bragging

Mariposa80 · 07/07/2022 21:43

It's not clear to me, can you afford what you are insisting on?

Irrespective of affordability though, I'd buy the cheaper house and put in a second toilet and still be quids in

dudsville · 07/07/2022 21:48

Whether or not you're being unreasonable depends on your funds. We moved to a cheaper area and have two full bathrooms with an additional downstairs loo. There are two of us. No one ever has to wait. But this is a luxury we couldn't afford in the city.

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